11th Annual Coney Island Film Festival! 107 films in a jam packed weekend!

Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y.. The 11th annual installment of the Coney Island Film Festival hits the shores of Coney Island from Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 25th. This year's festival features 107 films from around the world; a stunning array of high and low-brow fare, as diverse as the neighborhood it represents. Subjects range from the profound to the profane, showcasing the independent spirit and irreverent nature of the one and only Coney Island.

The festival kicks off on Friday Night, September 23rd at 7:30pm in the Coney Island Museum with a screening of Charles Denson's The Last Immortal. Keith Suber is a forty-five year old reformed Coney Island gang leader, an original Rollin' 60's Crip who's been shot six times and served ten years in a federal penitentiary. He's returned to his Coney Island roots and founded an organization whose mission is is to stop the gun violence that is plaguing the community. Following the screening it's our Opening Night Party, 9:30 p.m. at the Freak Bar and Sideshows by the Seashore. It's an evening of live performance from members of the Coney Island Circus Side show and stars of the New York Burlesque scene! Hosted by Adam The First Real Man. Open Bar (beer and wine) from 9:30pm - 11:30pm and light finger food will be served.

New this year is a Saturday Free screening at the New York Aquarium's 4D Theater and a Saturday Night Party inside the Aquarium! A screening of Dena Seidel's Atlantic Crossing: A Robot's Daring Mission takes place at 5:30pm (first come, first served). From 7pm-11pm, it's a $15 ticketed event party featuring live music from The Moto Wrays and Spanking Charlene, performers from the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, New York Burlesque Stars, all hosted by Adam The First Real Man! A cash bar (beer and wine) is available.

The Coney Island Film festival offers a huge variety of Shorts: Dramas, Comedies, Documentaries, Animation, Experimental, Made in Coney Island, Horror Films, Music Videos and Silent Films are all represented, making CIFF a festival with something for everyone! Short highlights include Jacob Chase's After School Special, A man and a woman have an awkward encounter at an indoor playground in this Neil Labute penned slice-of-life. Starring Sarah Paulson (Deadwood, American Gothic) and Wes Bentley (American Beauty). Kimberly McCullough's Nice Guys Finish Last, Since Kori (Danielle Harris, Halloween 4) fell in love with Mike Insane as a teenager, she's been chasing bad boys. As she nears the big 3-0, she begs her best friend to set her up with a nice guy. While Kori struggles to love what's good for her, she's haunted by her dangerous past. Marc Masciandaro's Impostor, a lonely office drone must resort to desperate measures for a date with the woman of his dreams.

Documentary Feature highlights include The New York Premiere of Jeff Krulik's Heavy Metal Picnic, a hilarious scrapbook of mid-80s Maryland heavy metal and original rock, focusing on the 'Full Moon Jamboree,' a weekend field party that went down in the middle of wealthy DC suburb, Potomac. In another New York Premiere we feature, Sal Del Giudice's Long Island Uncovered which takes an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look at the private lives of Long Island's top tribute/cover band musicians. The film takes an honest look at the chaos, trials and tribulations of these musicians as they juggle careers, family and everyday responsibilities in order to rehearse and perform with their bands .

Feature film highlights include the New York Premiere of Darin Beckstead's Somebody's Hero. An average New York accountant tries to fill the boots of a movie-based superhero. Starring Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs. Ugly Betty) and Susan Misner (Gossip Girl). CIFF presents Brian Weaver & Evan Makrogiannis's The Super, harkening back to the days of the Times Square grindhouse's, The Super is a horror/crime thriller centering on an unstable Vietnam veteran turned apartment house superintendent. In keeping with annual tradition, the festival will screen the 1979 Coney Island cult classic The Warriors at 10:30pm on Saturday, September 24th at Sideshows By The Seashore.

The wildly popular Horror Shorts Program returns again this year, Saturday at 8pm. Nine films from the bizarre to the macabre are bound to scare and spook the audience!

Wrapping up the festivals last screening block on Sunday, September 25th at 6pm is "Coney Island Films" featuring short films centered and themed around Coney Island. Highlights include Daniel Turkewitz's A Day In The Life Of Coney Island, From before the sun comes up to long after it goes down, a look at what goes on during a day at America's first playground, Coney Island. Lou Dembrow's John Dorman, The Candy Man, In 2001, renovation of the Stillwell Ave subway station forced the beloved Philip's Candy to close it's doors. Is there life after 54 years in Coney Island for John Dorman, owner of Philips Candy?

An awards ceremony (free to attend) takes place Sunday, September 25th, 8pm at the legendary Ruby's Bar 1213 Riegelmanns Boardwalk, Coney Island .

Event Details are as follows:
Coney Island Film Festival
September 23, 24 and 25, 2011

Films screen at Sideshows by the Seashore (Ground Floor) and the Coney Island Museum (2nd Floor), both located inside the landmarked Coney Island USA building at 1208 Surf Ave., between Stillwell Ave. and West 12st in Coney Island, Brooklyn. 718-372-5159. Take the D, F, N or Q lines to the Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue stop. Both screening venues are within easy walking distance of the subway. Special Free Screening at the New York Aquarium's 4D Theater, 602 Surf Ave., (between West 8th and West 5th streets) Saturday, 9/24, 5:30pm (first come, first served). Beer, wine, water, soda and candy concessions are available on site at the Coney Island USA Freak Bar and may be brought inside the Coney Island USA screening venues!

Tickets:
Full Festival Pass (All screenings and parties except "The Warriors"): $55
Opening Night Screening: $6
Opening Night Party: $25
Saturday Screening Pass (All Saturday Screenings except "The Warriors"): $15
Saturday Night Party at the New York Aquarium, $15
Saturday Night Screening of The Warriors: $10
Sunday Screening Pass: Sold Out
Any Individual Program Screening: $6

Advanced tickets for all programs and events are on sale now at our website. Pre-sale ends on Thursday, September 22nd at 5pm. Remaining tickets and passes are available during the festival, at the Coney Island USA Gift Shop, 1208 Surf Avenue. Saturday Night New York Aquarium Party Tickets may be purchased at the NY Aquarium main entrance beginning at 7pm. You may also purchase the Aquarium party tickets Friday Night from 7pm - 11pm and Saturday from Noon - 5 pm at Coney Island USA Gift Shop (1208 Surf Ave.).

For the full schedule and a complete list of films at the festival, visit www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com

You can also follow the film fest on Facebook and Twitter for updates!

About Coney Island USA
Coney Island USA, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in the amusement area of Coney Island whose mission is to defend the honor of lost forms of American popular arts and culture, leading to the renaissance of the historic Coney Island neighborhood. Coney Island USA produces programs including the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, the Mermaid Parade and Ball, Burlesque at the Beach, Creepshow at the Freakshow, the Coney Island Film Society, the Coney Island Film Festival, the Coney Island Museum, Ask the Experts, Coney Island Sideshow School, the Coney Island Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival and the Congress of Curious Peoples. The Coney Island Film Festival is produced in association with indiefilmpage.com.